14-year-old used deep fryer at Texas cheesesteak shop, feds say. Restaurant fined

A 14-year-old worker at a Charleys Philly Steaks in Texas was regularly allowed to use a manual deep fryer, according to federal authorities.

That was one of several violations the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found while investigating the San Angelo chain restaurant, according to a July 6 news release.

Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act state 14- and 15-year-old employees may only use deep fryers that “automatically lower and raise the baskets into and out of the oil or grease.”

Officials say the location did not pay required overtime to three workers, and teen employees were told to “clock out after the regular closing time” but then had to stay to keep working.

Five minors were also scheduled to work too many hours and past times permitted by child labor standards, according to the news release.

Maw’s CPS SA LLC, the company operating this Texas location, could not be reached for comment. Charleys Philly Steaks did not immediately respond to a request for a statement on July 6.

The Department of Labor recovered $3,184 in overtime back wages, $3,184 in damages and $3,786 in penalties from the location, according to the news release. That’s a total of $10,154.

“This young workforce is providing high demand services to all of us. The federal child labor laws were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities,” Wage and Hour District Director Nicole Sellers said in a statement.

“Violating a worker’s right to get paid what they earned and putting minors in danger is not only illegal, it leaves a negative impression of the workforce on our youth in our community,” she continued. “This is most critical in a period when employers struggle to find a much-needed workforce.”

Charleys Philly Steaks works with franchisees to operate over 650 restaurants in 46 U.S. states and 17 countries, according to its website.

San Angelo is about 205 miles northwest of Austin.

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